Posted Wed Mar 12, 2003 10:16 am GMT by KidIchiban
The best bluffing strategy, is not to bluff.
otherwise, I haven't been able to develop a logical strategy behind it, besides the obvious. str8's, flushes.
I never bluff. Remember that if you see me on PS.
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Posted Sat Mar 15, 2003 10:25 pm GMT by golddog
But is this a strategy to throw us off your trail? :D
Agree to some extent. A good bluffing strategy seems to be to have a monster hand early and play it hard. Then people believe when you play something hard.
Of course, the stars have to align--position from the button, other bets, believability of your bluff...
Posted Mon Jul 14, 2003 7:42 pm GMT by Poker_Vendetta
Yes I definitely can't bluff well either, but a master bluffer would be hard to beat no doubt. Even with a 7 2o they bet 100 preflop. Flop comes down, he has just 2 twos, he bets 200, turn, you have two 2's he bets 250, you think he is bluffing because he does this everytime! 8 comes off on river, you have two-pair, and he bets 300 this time, he does this everytime and you have two-pair! You have to raise, he reraises in a desperate attempt to make you fold and you call! But no, he has a great pokerface and he actually has 3 2's. I mean, I couldn't do that, and I suppose it wouldn't work on everyone but that would be hard IMO to compete with. They may have a high card 3 on the river, but if they bet it after every card you will never know what they have. Never as far as I know. I am a novice, or perhaps lower than that (just online play money poker) but that would be tricky to beat I would have to think.
Posted Sat Aug 16, 2003 4:42 pm GMT by karasz
well... a good bluffer also does something few others can at a poker table... not care if he loses....
you cant bluff well if you are too busy spending the pot in your head...
Posted Sat Sep 27, 2003 3:43 am GMT by BigSlickAK
Here is one thing that i know, if you want to use bluffing effectivly you have to know your competition or at least what they know about you.
Posted Sat Sep 27, 2003 1:02 pm GMT by Geno
The best bluffers (and hence players) mix it up all the time. Ur strategy should be to do things that make u unpredictable (but not bad) and as we all know, there's no better feeling than winning a big pot on a total bluff. it's better than throwing down the nuts for me if u win a nice amount 
Posted Sat Sep 27, 2003 2:46 pm GMT by BigSlickAK
I agree, there ain't nothing like winning big with losing cards
Posted Sun Sep 28, 2003 1:49 am GMT by Carson Cashman
Another effective strategy, if you find your bluffs aren't getting any respect, is to show some of your winning hands when your opponents are folding to your bets.
If the people think you're just taking swings at the pot, you're going to have a very tough time bluffing. Show them your monster hands if they fold from time to time, and the chance that your bluffs will succeed will go through the roof.
A player with a reputation for being very tight will have it much easier in the bluffing game.
Another thing to consider is how your opponents think about the hands you play. The better players who have been watching you may pick up on your behaviors. For example, maybe John Chipslinger to your left notices that you never play small suited connecters from early position... Trying to bluff him with a three straight on the board and a bunch of rags may not be very effective.
Also, poor players are more often more difficult to bluff. Its a strange fact, but they're "too dumb" to be bluffed out of a pot. Instead of thinking about what cards you have, a poor player may be focusing entirely on his or her own hand, without any regard for what you have. You'll find that bluffing at low-limit tables is very difficult and often a losing game. People don't care enough about that extra dollar or two, so they'll just call you down, maybe even out of sheer human curiosity to see what you're holding.
Posted Sun Sep 28, 2003 6:08 am GMT by Geno
That poor player thing is dead right. I'm likely to lose my bankroll against retards than solid players cos they show no respec'. Bastards, I hate them all and I avoid playing against them if I can.
Posted Sun Sep 28, 2003 2:08 pm GMT by Poker_Vendetta
You know, a bluff is really just a feint of power. You either make your hand seem strong with powerful bets or seem weak with weak bets, so bluffing is essentially the most important part of the game. If you were to play EVERY hand exactly how it should be played like..You flop quads and go all in when you know your opponent has Ace high and is about to poop in his pants you wouldn't make THAT much altogether. You have to get the maximum profit by slowplaying and hoping he can catch and Ace so he will commit money to the pot. Anyway, bluffing is pretty important and it can lead to gigantic pots if you know how to advertise. Let's say you are running over some tighter players and one with King high grows some testes and calls you down on the river. You can proudly flip your crappy cards and you are almost guaranteed some action. Let's say you flop two pair and bet a little bit, you try to look nervous and quickly check on the turn as if you were beaten. They may bet or check, in which case a bet on the river would look like a steal. These are the elements the pros have mastered, and use to annhilate fish like I.
Posted Sun Sep 28, 2003 8:46 pm GMT by highscty
I find bluffing used most effectively in no limit/ pot limit. You must very carefully judge your opponent. Does he often sandbag? Does he often often play crappy cards? Does he only play supreme hands? Lets say, you raise pre-flop and everyone folds except you and someone who is tight. The flop comes 4,4, 9 rainbow ( no help to your j q.) They check. If they are a check-raiser id probably take the free card, if you knew they would rarely play a hand with a 4 in it and hadn't seen them check-raise... maybe try betting the pot/ betting a lot.
Posted Thu Oct 09, 2003 12:53 pm GMT by blue eyes
carson said "Another effective strategy, if you find your bluffs aren't getting any respect, is to show some of your winning hands when your opponents are folding to your bets.
This is interesting Carson, as it assumes that the other players haven't figured out his game, and maybe they have, which is why they fold to the big hands and call the bluffs, by showing your big hands when they folded, you are just confirming their theory about you.
Posted Thu Oct 09, 2003 3:05 pm GMT by BigSlickAK
That is an excellent point.
Posted Sun Dec 07, 2003 12:25 am GMT by jeffk
I just lost in all in with A Q the retard called with 6 9, so pissed
Posted Mon Dec 15, 2003 5:06 pm GMT by american mutt
My favorate is drawing a bluff, say you have jj, bet big preflop, flop
comes as j74 or something, then check or bet small, most people
see that as a weekness and jump. Its kind of opposite of bluffing,
but very satisfying when they think you're just stupid, then you
blast em with nuts. It does'nt usually work more than once, and
is kinda careless, but still a good way to start a tourney. Of course,
turn n river could be 7's with other person holding 7, but as pv sez,
thats poker.
Posted Sun Jan 11, 2004 2:05 pm GMT by JimiHWannaBe
the best stratagey to bluffing is using your position to your advantage, being able to sense weakness, and knowing your opponent. if your opponent plays very thight then its very easy to bluff him out of a pot but if he calls you then you know hes got a very strong hand.
Posted Tue Jan 20, 2004 1:28 am GMT by sceadu
Keep in mind who (more like what) you're bluffing against, as well as the general feel of the game. And the more people involved, it gets exponentially harder.
Posted Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:16 pm GMT by saper88aa
I only bluff when i have the best hand
Posted Wed Jan 21, 2004 7:04 pm GMT by Poker_Vendetta
Upon further investigation, I realize now the first type of bluffer I described is the manical type, a potentially great player depending on luck...but almost always most of the time a failure. The correct bluffer is the selective bluffer of course. Let's say you hold the KQs, and your opponent holds 1010 with which he has reraised you substantially with. If the flop comes A, Q, X you have to be very wary of the ace if your opponent comes out swinging, those are the most dangerous players of all. (I realize this bluff would take some pretty serious courage but you see what I mean) Excellent readers, plus courage, and excellent judgment on when to bluff is the most efficient bluffer no doubt.
Posted Thu Jan 22, 2004 4:03 pm GMT by BeerWench13
I personally like to handle bluffing one of three ways.
1. Bluff (small) within the first few hands at a new table. I am hoping to be called and to have to show my bluff. This sets them up to call the monster hand when I have it. I like to get caught on a bluff as soon as possible and then bet the same way when I have the nuts. It gets more people in the pot and therefore makes my win bigger. The small loss on the bluff at the beginning is nominal compared to the big pot.
2. Don't bluff until after you've earned respect at the table. Once you've won with the killer hand then more people are likely to lie down to your bluff because you've not shown that you'll play without having the nuts.
3. Don't bluff.
Which way you play all depends on who you are playing against. If you're playing against good players, use strategy #1 or #3. If you're going against rookies who don't have the first clue, use strategy #2. The key, as with any strategy, is knowing your opponents.
Posted Thu Mar 11, 2004 3:33 pm GMT by Matt T
I've only really bluffed once in my short time in this game (not counting semi-bluffs), it was against a maniac and it actually worked! The reason it worked was because for some strange reason, I slowplayed a pair of Kings several hands earlier (FPS all the way!). Turned out that this guy flopped a straight and slowplayed it. I won that hand because 4 spades came off and I had the Ks. Several hands later I check-raised him with nothing (with a scary board) and he said,"You're trying to trap me" and folded. He actually flashed his cards, he had me beat big time. This was very early in the session for both of us.
So maybe it has to do with "what is fresh in your opponents mind".?
Posted Thu Mar 11, 2004 6:59 pm GMT by golddog
I think bluffing is overused as a strategy in amateur games. There has to be something you can scare them with on the board, first.
But, anyway, once you've decided to bluff, remember the advice of George Costanza:
"It's not a lie if you believe it."
Posted Tue Mar 23, 2004 6:10 am GMT by Phantom_X
You must be very smart if you are wanting to bluff. You must pay attention to what the flop is on the table. If it is somethin really good like 2,3,4...you must question "well someone could have 5 and 6 in their hand." Therefore, if you wanted to bluff that...you could pretend you have the higher straight, however in all reality he/she could. Because most likely, if you are tryin to bluff a guy who has a hand that is very hard to beat, he probably won't be bluffed by you at all.
I think the best stategy to bluffing is being unpredictable. Playing tight sometimes, than sometimes just bluffin. If they know you play tight, than a hand you start callin and raising with nothin, most likely one assumes he must have a good hand and will fold after 4th street. I know this strategy works for me. But in order to be a good bluffer, you have to be a very good observer. Humans werent made to lie, and it is VERY hard to lie without showin a sign no matter how hard you try. However, some try to bluff and make it seem like they are lying when they're really not. So, you just have to be smart, take risks here and there and just observe people the best you can.
Usually you can tell when someone is bluffing if they aren't breathing calmly. They almost seem like they are holding their breathe. Also, asking questions at the table in order to find out if one is lying or telling the truth. By doing this, you can observe different tones, gestures, and facial expressions with diff. questions and the way they answer back. Example:
"There are 2 Kings on the table, do you have one in your hand?"
See how he reacts and answers - if he even chooses to answer.
Than ask him, "Is your hair brown?"
You may think thats rediculous, but im serious. If a guy is bluffing, usually they are kind of tense and nervous. With a weird, humours question like that, if he is bluffing, most likely he wont laugh or show laid back about it. However, if he is confident in his hand...he would probably laugh, do a gesture with his body, and respond back. You may be able to pick up little hints from people by asking questions at the table and seeing how they respond to them. But, some people are good at knowing these kind of things and reading people. Usually you can determine if they are lying or telling the truth by how they answer back or any gestures they might do.
In conclusion, I would say bluffing isnt something you should make a habbit of. You must know whats on the table and what could beat what. Bluffing involves taking risks, and risks are only good to take once in a great while. Be diverse with the cards and your betting. Switch it up from time to time, so nobody knows how you play. Throw away some money with nothin in your hand, just to keep your game hidden. Sounds dumb, but Poker is like chess. Gotta have a strategy and play smart, and think ahead - the long term. Hope this sounded intelligent and helpful, lol. Thank you
Jason
Posted Tue May 25, 2004 1:53 am GMT by Jauron
| american mutt wrote: | My favorate is drawing a bluff, say you have jj, bet big preflop, flop
comes as j74 or something, then check or bet small, most people
see that as a weekness and jump. Its kind of opposite of bluffing,
but very satisfying when they think you're just stupid, then you
blast em with nuts. It does'nt usually work more than once, and
is kinda careless, but still a good way to start a tourney. Of course,
turn n river could be 7's with other person holding 7, but as pv sez,
thats poker. |
Isn't that just called slow playing?
Posted Sat Jun 12, 2004 12:12 pm GMT by KrimzonRiver
I used to be a huge bluffer... I would play anything. I could have AKsuited, or 72os. I would play them both the same. And if I saw Picture cards, I'd bet big. Eventually, it came back and smacked me in the face. So, I now stick with a more, semi-bluff play.
EX: I have 4,10.. and out flops 4, Ace, 7.. I'll bet low... Turn comes out King, I'll bet higher, as if I have 2 pair, or the ace/king... and people usually fold to my pair of fours.
Posted Sat Jun 12, 2004 2:10 pm GMT by Ninja
I wouldn't call playing every hand the same way bluffing, just bad play. Heh.
Anyway, I also like to bluff, quite often. And I can pick up on tells easily, my problem is accidently revealing it to them, when I try to get them on tilt. This one kid, who's a douchebag, I figured out on tell on asking him to show if I fold. I call his big bluff, and say "You gonna tell me you're bluffing next time?". Now he knows the tell. Damnit.
Posted Sat Jun 26, 2004 7:52 pm GMT by Noel
Bluffing has never let me down.
After you wina few rounds, with a few lucky pockets. Then start to bluff, what are the chances of people messing with you then.
Posted Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:28 am GMT by JohnnyCache
I don't "Bluff" a lot per se - but a lot of time, I'll pick up weakness in someone and bet, see if they waffle and fold . . .but I'm not really repping a particular hand, I'm just betting that they have a weak one and their doubt will do the bluffing for me. ..
Posted Fri Jul 09, 2004 2:07 pm GMT by Ventrick
Another good way to set up your bluffs is to be personable, try to get a rapport going with some of the people at the table. When you fold to their raises sometimes let it be known that you're giving them respect. If you become the guy everybody likes or if you give some respect to their plays they'll be less likely to call you when you make a play.
Posted Fri Nov 05, 2004 6:07 am GMT by chip-addict
My bluffing strategy: Only bluff once and make sure you get caught. Now no one trusts your bets. If you play your cards soundly from then on, the mere possibility that you may bluff at any time can help when you bet your strong hands the same way you just got caught bluffing.
Posted Mon Dec 13, 2004 7:30 am GMT by thumper
to help with bluffing, i find it always gets people fired up when everyone folds and you show them only one card.
It's teasing, but it always gets them thinking about what your other card is heh.
Best example was when there was only one other person playing back at me with the board showing Q-J-10-x-x. I had A-Q and was about 99% positive he had K-9. He raised big and I went all in without hesitation, obviously representing A-K. He thought about it for a few minutes, talking with me and the other players and eventually folded. He folded over K-9 as I suspected and then casually asked me whether I had it. I said I'd just show him one of my cards and flipped over my Ace. Had him thinking for the rest of the night 
Fooled him into going all in about an hour later when I was representing K-Q for the nut straight. I had the nuts and raked in about $600  He didn't see it coming heh.
Posted Tue Dec 14, 2004 5:32 pm GMT by aelredgerard
If i have a strong raisable preflop hand AK AJ AQ and to a lesser extent KQ 10A, and i raise it up i will ALWAYS bet the flop (if it is checked or i am in early position), with a reasonable bet too, lets say the pot was 300 i would raise at least 170 - 200. The amount of pots i pick up this way is unbelievable, sometimes i dont want to bet it, but i have raised it preflop..... so i do bet it and low and behold they ALL fold this type of bluff is worth it definatley in the long run
Posted Sun Jan 02, 2005 11:19 pm GMT by Bleakill
a really good time to bluff is right in the beginning of the game. works better in live game, i guess bcuz people are not really 'in the game' when they just sit down to play. works even with opponents who you know and who know you. 
Posted Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:48 am GMT by Zig
I'll bluff more often with high quality players than with beginners. With beginners - you almost always have to play nuts with them - they are so inexperienced they can turn a useless hand into winners....i've had terrible luck with some of them.
Once, I was SB, all folded - I decided to sweep the blinds - had AJ suited. Not exactly a terrible hand to have against one player.
I bet the BB allin - the turkey calls and proudly flips over J4off.
Yep, caught the 4.
Its to the point that with inexperienced players you need to see preflops far more often than with experienced players, and tread carefully. They'll call with Kx off cause of that magic King card and if youre holding a power hand like AK - they catch the low card and youre sitting there gutshot.
So back to topic - bluffing imo depends on who youre trying to bluff. Its easier to represent hands with experienced players than beginners - they just dont see it.
Posted Thu Mar 10, 2005 5:36 am GMT by Idaho
I bluff all the time - but only for decent stakes and only against one player. I don't count positional raises on a weak table as bluffing - that's stealing - something different.
When I bet good hands I bet big. When I bluff I bet big. I bluff maybe once for every two good hands - so even if my bluffs are always called it remains profitable.
Posted Wed Feb 22, 2006 6:41 pm GMT by unclejessie77
I bluff alot. Sometimes I get called, sometimes I rake in huge pots. With the people I play with, it all depends on how I bet my bluff.
This is what I do when im FTA (I love to bluff when Im FTA. i will 99% of the time raise 3xBB. No matter what I have. Early/late players when nothing invested will almost always fold everything but JJ/KK/AA.
You do two things here. 1) make your bet pull double duty by forcing the weeker hands out and making the stronger ones think twice about calling, then almost gaurenteeing a fold if someone who called doesnt hit a set or higher on the flop. 2) If everyone folds, you win the blinds wth utter crap.
No if I get reraised. I will fold 1/2 the time but if the reraise isnt to much, to keep up my bluff up, I will call to see a flop then fold to any bet. Sometime I get lucky on the flop and the bluff turns into a winning hand.
I usually take a commanding chip lead early with this stragaty. Now If i can only get my end game to work for me.
Posted Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:23 am GMT by mrcfkane
bluffing to eat limpers blinds in cash games is my favorite play, it really helps for future play in when you have late table position.
1)i think a big problem with bluffin is that people only try to create the illusion that they have the big hand. 2)i try to bluff more when we have crap but you wont gamble, usually on the flop.
either way involves risk. 1) the real big hand might still call and your screwed. 2) the flop may have avioded my opponents hand but he may have a pocket pair. just gotta know when to pick the right times
Posted Thu May 04, 2006 2:07 pm GMT by JRM4833
| Geno wrote: | | The best bluffers (and hence players) mix it up all the time. Ur strategy should be to do things that make u unpredictable (but not bad) and as we all know, there's no better feeling than winning a big pot on a total bluff. it's better than throwing down the nuts for me if u win a nice amount |
Well said. The best strategy for bluffing is a completely random strategy for bluffing. I can't remember where I read it, and I don't think I have what it takes yet to pull it off, but some poker writer brought up the idea of picking a random card (8H, eg) and bluffing every time with it. Of course you have to factor in a ton of details, like position, action, reads, etc.
Posted Tue Jul 04, 2006 5:47 pm GMT by efram
I tend to bluff alot, usually after showing down strong hands and usually with strong continuation bets.
one of the best bluffing strategies I use is the check/raise but when I raise I hit the button that automatically raises twice the last bet. I check, then hover my mouse over the button and click it as fast as possible when the Villian raises my check. Not only does the check/raise indicate strength but the quickness with which I got my money in does as well.
This one works quite a bit for me.
another is continuation betting. If I get 55 and raise pre-flop, I raise with the full intention of betting the flop no matter what. If there are at most 2 callers I'll bet the flop no matter what hits. Most of the time, if over cards come, my 1/2 - 2/3's pot continuation bet gets people out. This is done out of position. I've learned betting out of position indicates strenght and unless they hit the flop, they will lay it down.
Of course this is situational and I usually wait to make these types of bluffs after I've shown down some monsters that I raised pre-flop with. Get respect and then use it to your advantage.
If I raise pre-flop, have shown monsters, even if I have 83o and went for bluff from get-go, if an Axx comes on flop, I'm betting and seems like most of the time, I take it down there. Alot of people call from blinds with suited connectors or small PPs.
I think the key to bluffing is staying with it long enough to win. Clearly losing money sometimes, but its a risk. Another key is the willingnes to lose the money. I sometimes bluff all the way to the river and make 3/4 pot bets to look like I'm begging for a call. Rarely do I go all-in for a bluff, sometimes but it depends on the action, stack sizes, board etc.
When I do bluff, I think, if he has it, and I lose it, I can win it back. Confidence to get the cash back is a factor in bluffing. I always think to myself, "If he calls me, I'll win it back". Course this doesn't work for tourneys if you're all in with it. I don't play alot of tourneys so in ring games, if I lose my bluff, I re-buy and tighten up a bit, plus my bluff was called so I can then take advantage of my loose image and rake with a monster.
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